Kobe Earthquake MEDC 17/01/1995

Kobe Earthquake MEDC 17/01/1995

1. Facts

   • Earthquake was 7.2 on Richter Scale
   • Focus was 16km below Earth's crust
   • Epicentre was 20 miles south of Kobe
   • Tremors lasted 20 seconds

2. Causes

   • 1. Japan is near the boundary of the Eurasian and Philippine plates
   • 2. Philippine plate moved towards continental Eurasian
   • 3. Philippine plate sub ducted below the Eurasian as it's denser
   • 4. Plates jammed together, pressure built up
   • 5. Pressure was suddenly released, the plates jerked past one another
   • 6. Earthquake's shock waves then travelled outwards

3. Responses

   • Short Term
     • Rescue teams searched for 10 days
     • People were evacuated
     • Motorola maintained the phone network for free
     • 7-11 helped provide rations and essentials
   • Long Term
     • Planning laws to make buildings 'earthquake proof'
     • New buildings further apart
     • Many moved away
     • Japan has an earthquake drill every year
     • Jobs were created in construction of new homes
     • By July, water, gas and electric were all working again
     • By January 1999 134,000 housing units had been built

4. Effects

   • Primary
     • 6,400 were killed
     • 40,000 seriously injured
     • 300,000 made homeless
     • People were trapped in buildings
     • 1 million were without water for 10 days
     • Only 30% of roads were usable
     • Elevated roads collapsed (e.g Great Hanshin Expressway)
   • Secondary
     • Fires due to broken gas mains
     • Spread of disease
     • Cost= $220 billion
     • Closure of businesses (e.g Panasonic)